I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 63

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 63
The afternoon sun blazed down so fiercely it stung the eyes.
Philip, the commander of the Imperial Palace Knights Order, summoned by imperial decree, swallowed hard.
“Your Majesty. I bow before you.”
“Welcome.”
The Emperor, who had been busy all morning with Birthday Celebration preparations, smiled gently.
Contrary to what one might expect from a man with a grown son, his youth shone with an almost miraculous radiance—especially today.
“I apologize for summoning you during such a hectic time.”
“No, Your Majesty. If you call, I shall go anywhere. My congratulations on your birthday.”
Summoned by the Emperor himself.
No matter—
“Thank you. As fortune would have it, the day I called upon you is my birthday.”
At that, Philip bowed deeply once more, offering his congratulations again.
True to his title as the Sun of the Empire, the Emperor stood silhouetted against the bright sunlight, radiating something so intensely compelling it was difficult even to form words.
“I have limited attendance at the banquet, but we hold a Festival in the Central Square during the Birthday week. Of course, this year we’ve scaled it back considerably out of respect for the Crown Prince, but we haven’t abandoned it entirely—the authority of the Imperial Family demands it.”
……
“As a result, there will inevitably be more people coming up from the provinces than usual. Trade merchants are quite active at times like these, after all.”
The Emperor, having obliquely mentioned the influx of transient crowds, lifted the corners of his mouth.
“Where there are people, accidents follow.”
!
“See to it that no ‘accidents’ occur that might concern me.”
Philip understood well enough that “accident” here carried a meaning beyond its dictionary definition.
“……I shall do my utmost to ensure no unnecessary accidents occur.”
“Philip.”
The Emperor spoke as though gently chiding a child who had erred, his gentle reproach unmistakable.
“Not utmost effort.”
Rather,
“You must leave no possibility whatsoever. They must not set foot in the Imperial Palace.”
A warning. That was unmistakably a warning.
An order not to let Bancadium enter this place—in a sense, the first and last warning.
There was only one answer to give in this moment.
“I shall keep it in mind, Your Majesty.”
Nothing else was required.
After Philip departed, still bowing, the Emperor turned slowly and drew a deep breath.
He moved languidly toward the window, his brow darkening.
‘The Crown Prince’s maidservant is dead, Your Majesty. I sent my knights to search the entire area thoroughly, yet found nothing out of the ordinary.’
‘So now, you may rest assured.’
Rest assured, he said.
‘Nonsense.’
The eyes that had been gazing at the peaceful landscape turned cold and sharp.
Jerban had assured him that the maidservant was dead, but the Emperor had disbelieved him from the start.
Of course, there was no concrete reason. By the evidence alone, it seemed highly probable that Jerban’s report was true—the maidservant had perished.
But sometimes a person’s intuition proves more accurate than any evidence.
After hearing Jerban’s report, the Emperor had immediately summoned the Knights Commander and sent others to investigate separately.
To find the missing maidservant.
‘I have a bad feeling about this.’
In his experience, that’s precisely when trouble erupts.
Even on his own birthday, the Emperor could not lay his concerns aside, his fist clenching quietly.
‘Bancadium.’
If only he could dispose of them quickly, he could prepare his plans again.
‘Persistent bastards.’
The Emperor clicked his tongue.
‘Damned Founder’s Oath.’
Without it, he would have killed them long ago.
The moment he killed the Duke, the Oath would shatter, and the truth would be revealed to the world—that the Crown Prince’s death was not Bancadium’s doing.
Through his own death.
The Emperor was deeply frustrated by that insane price: the oath-breaker dies.
‘No. There’s still a chance the situation hasn’t fallen apart.’
If the Crown Prince’s maidservant is truly dead as Jerban reported, that would be fortune indeed.
And even if she lives, Bancadium would have no knowledge of her existence.
The Crown Prince’s residence was sealed off long ago, and every other servant there died on the spot.
Only he, Jerban, and the Knights Commander knew of the escaped rat.
Unless there was a traitor among them, Bancadium, far away in the Capital, could not possibly know.
She had escaped her cell, but Bancadium hasn’t returned yet anyway.
Even if he does return, he cannot claim his own innocence.
Those who killed the Crown Prince took their own lives willingly—there were no witnesses, no evidence.
‘There’s no need to be anxious yet.’
The current situation favored him, and that would remain true going forward.
The Emperor relaxed his shoulders and breathed slowly.
‘I must break the Founder’s Oath, no matter what.’
To destroy Bancadium.
* * *
The Capital was far larger and more tremendous than anything I’d read in books!
‘There are so many people!’
I think they said this was the Central Square, the heart of the Capital.
‘I’ve seen pictures of it in books.’
But seeing it in drawings, I never imagined it would be this vast and sprawling.
Carriages this enormous passed through with room to spare—it was absolutely amazing.
Roll, roll, roll.
I pressed my eyes just barely past the window and eagerly took in the sights around me.
When I escaped from Count Amelot’s house, I’d only traveled through back alleys, so I’d thought the whole world was dim and dark.
But seeing streets alive with energy like this gave me strength just looking at them.
“Is it always this crowded?”
“Hmm, no? This is actually the smaller crowd.”
“This is the smaller crowd?”
Impossible!
How many more people come at other times? I couldn’t even imagine.
“This year, we’ve reduced the Festival scale to honor the Crown Prince. So it’ll be smaller than usual. But wait until the Founding Festival and the Harvest Festival—you’ll see something truly spectacular.”
!
“Once this business is settled, I’ll show you lots of beautiful and amazing places.”
“I’d love to—!”
I was about to exclaim when I suddenly caught myself.
‘You can’t be so eager about this.’
Sightseeing in the Central Square with my sister.
Just thinking about it sounded so wonderful, but the matter at hand wasn’t finished yet.
Here I was, already thinking about playing.
‘Though sister has kept suggesting we have fun together.’
Under normal circumstances, I should have cleared my name and then, under Bancadium’s protection, focused on carefully preparing my revenge.
Besides, sister must have her own duties to attend to. What if she starts to look lazy, or like I’m stealing her time?
I glanced quickly at the Duke.
But contrary to my worries,
“Take her around casually. Don’t wear her out.”
The Duke seemed unconcerned.
‘Is this all right?’
The work isn’t even finished yet—
“Speak.”
!
At the sudden voice, my body jumped. The golden eyes that had been watching my sister snapped instantly to me.
The Duke spoke in his usual flat tone.
“You have something you want to say to me.”
……
“You’ve been staring at me intently. It’s distracting.”
……So he noticed that.
Hearing his words, I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment.
“What’s wrong, Karin?”
My sister turned to me as well, asking.
In the blink of an eye, I’d captured the attention of both dragons, and I squeezed my fists nervously.
“I can manage on my own.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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